Pennsylvania Patchwork

The cover of this book is probably one of the prettiest ones I've seen in a while.  I love how the picture is on the front, but it wraps around to the back with the pictures of the Amish farm and the sky.  When I got this book in the mail, I had a hard time restraining myself from reading it right away because it was so appealing to me.

Kate Lloyd has become a writer that I anticipate reading her books.  This book is the second book in the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy.  I like how it switches back and forth between Holly and Holly's mother, Esther.  It also goes into third person during some points.  I liked that in this book.  It was something that I hadn't read much of lately, so it was a nice change.  It set the book apart from many others with that simple change.

Holly loves Zach, but I'll be honest....I didn't at first.  Once I understood more about him, I grew to like him.  I was kind of glad that I didn't like him immediately because it kept me open to new possibilities for Holly.  I did like how the book ended and couldn't imagine it being any other way.

Beth and Esther had a little feud going for awhile, in which I took Esther's side, too.  I'm not for sure why, but Kate Lloyd did a great job helping the reader for an opinion of certain characters right away.  I think that's what she wanted, but if it wasn't, she still did a good job at it.

I liked the first book in this series and can't wait to read book 3!  I hope it comes out soon!  Go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/klloyd to read more reviews about this book. 

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I received this book free from David C. Cook Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.Kat

Paige Torn by Erynn Mangum

I really like the cover of this book.  It uses two of my favorite colors and its a simple cover that is very eye-catching.  It's also a cover that I can look at and see several pictures that I can relate to on it!

 

I liked this book because I could relate to it more than I'd like to admit.  There are many times that I get so busy serving that I neglect my personal relationship with God.  "No" isn't a word that I like to say!  At many times in this book, I felt like I was reading about myself at different times in my life.  I think many women can relate to that since we tend to "do" and don't rush to say "no." 

 

Paige rushes from one place to another serving because she just can't say "no."  She's exhausted and filled up with caffeine from my favorite place, Starbucks.  She's trying to figure out what matters in life and what service to God really means.  It's so easy to think we can "do" more, but that's not necessarily what God wants us to do.  Tyler helps Paige see this truth....eventually.

 

This book was a light and easy book to read but fun to read, as well.  It was one that I enjoyed reading and had some difficulty putting it down.

 

I've never read anything by Erynn Mangum, but I think she is someone that will be writing many more good books for us to read in the future.  Since I've been on a roll with books for the beach, I think this one can definitely be added as a "book for the beach."

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I received this book free from CFBA and NAV Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Pieces of the Heart by Bonnie S. Calhoun

I liked the cover of this book.  It perfectly told me what the book was about.  I liked the colors and the contrasting colors in the quilt.  It's definitely a beautiful cover.

 

I liked the new perspective I had from this book.  I've read several books about WWII but none of them took on this perspective of being an African American during this time.  I liked how it discussed the different color skins because I honestly didn't know that there was segregation even among their community that led them to act harshly against each other.  I liked Cordelia Grace and how she didn't let that bother her.  It definitely didn't stop her friendship with Gertie.

 

I liked Bernard, but towards the middle I grew to have mixed feelings about him.  I think he started changing some then.  He definitely changed by the end thanks to PTSD.  That was hard to read because it does affect so many people, but sometimes I think people pay attention more when it's real issues that are put into a fiction book.  I'm glad so much attention was brought to the issue of PTSD.

 

I have never read any books by Bonnie S. Calhoun, but I'll be sure to add her to my list now, as well!

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I received this book free from CFBA and Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh

I saved this book to read on the beach and I'm glad I did.  It was the perfect, light, funny book that just screams the beach!  I loved picturing all of the changes Harriet was implementing.

 

I also like the topic of this book.  There are definitely many nonfiction books that deal with church conflict, but there aren't many fiction books that deal with that topic.  I liked how this book hit on this topic.  It made it easier to relate to since it was fiction.

 

Harriet is easy to relate to as well.  She's rebelled and then changed, but has to prove herself to others that she has changed.  Maddox was quite easy to like.  Their relationship was predictable, but it still made a good story.  In all honesty, not many romance books are unpredictable because a relationship has to form out of a budding relationship anyway.

 

Now I've got to read the next book of Tamara Leigh's!

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I received this book free from Waterbrook Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

 

Unfinished by Richard Stearns

Richard Stearns has a special place on my bookshelf, since he was the first author I reviewed for the booksneeze program when I first signed up a few years ago.  His first book was eye-opening and I knew this one would be that way too.  

I support World Vision and Compassion and like all that they stand for.  I enjoy the relationships I have through the programs and highly endorse them.   With that said, Unfinished is a book that challenges Christians to follow what Jesus said and taught.  Like Richard Stearns says, believing is just the beginning.  

I like how Stearns shares personal stories and shares the problems that he sees daily.  With the problems seen though, he does see solutions.  He's only 1 man though, and it takes many people to help become part of the solution.  He challenges us to put feet to our words because our work has just begun.

I'm thankful for the books that are falling the biblical basis and are reminding Christians that we are to go and share Christ.  We've forgotten that in American churches and have become so comfortable with materialistic things that we've abandoned the true Gospel for comfort.  I'm glad to see this book falls the biblical teachings that Jesus taught and reminds us of our purpose.

I hope that Richard Stearns writes another book and continues to share his experiences with more readers.  It reminds us that we are to be part of something more that isn't about ourselves.  It gives us perspective and challenges us.  It also reminds us of why we are here on this earth...for a mission.
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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Slow Moon Rising by Eva Marie Everson

It took me a few pages to really get into this book, but once I did I couldn't put it down.  This was excellent storytelling.  I really liked all of the different stories from their different perspectives. It flowed so nicely with no story being retold, but being picked up at different times throughout the years. 

I know life happens and death is big part of life, but I was still sad at the ending. I had grown to really like this family over all these chapters and I so wanted it to be a happy ending.  However, I think

that's what makes this book so easy to relate. There were many issues brought up in this book that each reader can find something to relate to. I liked how death was dealt with and so gracefully with hope.

Heather got on my nerves for the first half of the book, but once she took some steps to change her life around, I liked her. I immediately liked Ross and Anise and Ami. My heart broke for Kimberly and Jayme-Leigh at different times. I struggled some to really like Jayme-Leigh because she had her own secrets and wanted to rely on herself. She got better throughout the book, but I had a more difficult time relating to her and her independence.

I've read most of Eva Marie Everson's books and I have enjoyed every last one. She has such a gift

at writing. The Cedar Key series shows you how much she understands relationships and families.

She even had me looking up Cedar Key on the Internet because she made it sound like such a beautiful place that I wanted to hop in the car and go there. It sounded so relaxing!

I am looking forward to reading more by Everson.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Each the Same

I love the message in this book!  This book gave my children examples of what I always tell them.  I tell  my children that I love them the same, even if they are different from each other.  In their heads, I know they don't understand how I can love them the same, but I think they get it now. 

I would not have thought to compare the things that the author did in order to show examples for my children.  It was very cleverly written with cute pictures.  My kids love animals, so it was the first book that they requested I read.  They have even picked it up several times to "read" by themselves.  

The book explores how cats/chickens, cows/horses, sheep/sheep dogs, pigs/ducks are all very different animals on the farm.  They each do different things, but each are very special to the farmer.  The same is true with the farmer's children.  One is a boy and one is a girl.  They are different, but he loves them the same.  Beautiful story that I know we will read over and over.

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I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Literal Lily

I know that this is a children's book, but I found that I really enjoyed reading this book to my children.  I even laughed at the interpretation of Lily's "shop 'til you drop" idiom.  I also liked how the definition for "literally" was written in a simple way for children of all ages to understand.  I have used that word several times with my 4-year-old and now he has a better definition for the word.

Not only did I like how they explained the word "literally," but there were also many different examples of different idioms and how they are not meant to be taken literally.  I think it helps children to have examples that they can draw upon to help with explaining words.  My son has even started telling me that he loves me "to the moon and back."  I had forgotten all about that idiom!  I had also not stopped to realize how "I could just eat you right up" can sound downright scary to a child!

This was such a wonderful topic for a children's book, in my opinion.  It was something that can spawn discussions with your children.  The pictures aren't the best from an adult standpoint, but my children liked them.  They have already asked for me to read this book to them several times since I first read it to them this morning.
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I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Lock, Stock, and over a Barrel by Melody Carlson

As I mentioned in a previous post this week, I really like Melody Carlson.  I was really excited to know that she had released two books, both in different styles close together.  It was fun to read 2 different types of books, both by the same author.

 

This book was a great beach read for me, since I was on the beach.  Part of her new series, Dear Daphne novels, we follow Daphne as she goes through trying to figure out what to really do in her life.  She had a dream to be a writer and earns a job writing.  But is that what she really wants to do?  Is the big city life for her?  Or would she be better suited to follow her now-deceased aunt's ideas for her life?  Over the chapters in the book, you follow Daphne as she decides which direction she would rather follow.

 

I personally liked Daphne's aunt's plan for her.  I found the men she attracted to be pretty funny and quite entertaining.  I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. 

 

I also found the cover of the book to be very eye-pleasing.  It was designed to perfectly state what the inside of the book is about.  I like books that do that because I don't usually read the back of the book to read the summary.   I like to guess by using the cover!

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I received this book free from CFBA and B & H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould

Leslie Gould is a newer author to me.  However, after reading Courting Cate, I knew I'd like this book.  This book is the second book in the Courtships of Lancaster County series.  As a side note, I love the cover on this book.  It's so eye catching and just so pretty to look at.  I know I shouldn't, but more often than not, I do judge a book by its cover.  I'm sorry to admit that!

I liked how the author incorporated so many issues into this book.  So many of the Amish fiction books tend to give them very little problems.  I like the ones that remind me that they are real people with real issues just like we have.  I liked seeing that they got angry!  I know they also work through it and resolve it, but it's nice to be reminded of their very real emotions.

Seeing how the submission looks compared to how we view submission is always a little of a shock to me.  I consider myself very submissive to my husband and my parents, but the level they are able to forgive and submit always amazes me.  I like the plotting that went on behind the scenes, too, as they were trying to figure out how to make forgiveness within the families happen.

I can't wait to read book #3, which I'm hoping comes out sooner rather than later!
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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

 

I'm so glad that I saved this book to read on vacation while I was digging my feet in the sand at the beach!  This is a great new series that I can't wait to see develop.  The first book in A Chapel Springs Romance series, I liked seeing the romance develop between Beckett and Madison.  I like the scenes from the nursing home!  Since I work there a lot, I could easily envision those scenes and found them hilarious!

 

I like how I never really knew what was coming in this book.  It did have the typical layout of a contemporary romance novel, but there were so many surprises that set this book apart from the typical novels.

 

I liked Madison and how she had to figure out why she believed in God and had to learn to get over her anger at God.   I like the questions because I think its something that many people tend to do.  Beckett overcame so many things and became a man that was someone I'd want my own daughter to date one day. 

 

I'm looking forward to reading every single book in this series.  I hope I don't have to wait too long in order for it to release!

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I received this book free from the Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.



My Very First Noah's Ark Playtime book

My children absolutely loved this book. They thought that it was a lot of fun to put the stickers in this book.  The illustrations are fun and bright and very eye-catching for children.  There are a lot of stickers for the kids in this book, which is great for using this book for multiple children.

I used this book for both of my children and it worked well for them.  I was able to hand them the stickers and they would put them on with ease.  The outlines are clear for the kids to know exactly where to put them.  I also like how each page has a lot of stickers to put on the pages.  I was able to have one child do one page and the other do the other page.  It pleased them both with no quarreling.  I also liked it because it gave me some more things to do with my children that helped me have quality time with them.  We also had been going through the book of Genesis this past year, so it was good to go through this book and reinforce what we had learned through Genesis.

These books have been very pleasing to me and something that I look forward to doing with my children every time they across the review pages!  I hope they continue to do these through all of the major stories in the Bible.

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I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.



A Simple Song by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson has become one of the authors that I am always anxious to read.  She never seems to disappoint me with such unique story line.  She can vary her style of writing, yet still draw you into her books.

 

I liked how this book told the story of Katrina and gave her such a sweet spirit.  She didn't leave her rumspringa to partake in silly explorations.  Instead, she used it to try to win money to help provide her father money for a much-needed surgery.

 

Many Amish books deal with the Amish leaving then coming back or something along those lines.  I liked how she left for a good reason, but she never explored with things that would compromise her faith.  I also liked how her aunt went with her.  I think it showed how much an accountability partner can help you.

 

Katrina's aunt was downright mean and I didn't much care for her.  I know people act like that to their families and I can never understand how someone could do that.  I wanted her uncle to stand up for his family!

 

I would say that I can't wait to read her next book, but I already have and it's just as good.  That review is coming in the next day or so and you'll see for yourself that Melody Carlson is an author that has such a talent in writing a wide variety of stories.



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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Abraham Lincoln Civil War Stories by Joe Wheeler

This is such a fascinating book with a neat perspective.  I like how all of the stories came from once spoken stories and not stories that were written down.  I can't imagine how much research this took in order to write down  and compile all of these personal stories.  It's such a wonderful family heritage that his family helped to participate in this book over so many years.

I truly don't know much about Abraham Lincoln, except for your typical text book/school lessons, which I'm sad to say didn't stick entirely.  If they had taught them in the way that this book shared about Abraham Lincoln, I'm sure that it would have stuck more.  I came away with such a respect for President Lincoln and I really liked his character.

I figured President Lincoln liked to read just because of the time period he was in, but I was glad to know that my assumption was true.  I like the picture of him wheeling around the baby as a young boy with his nose in the book the entire time.  Book lovers everywhere can appreciate that and probably relate to that!

Another thing that stuck out to me was the story of him showing up at the rectory early one morning with the desire to be married. I saw how he worked hard and tried to make right whatever he did wrong.  I very much respect that character trait.  The goat on the bed story was quite hilarious, too.  I'm sure I would have responded in the exact same way as Mrs. Cuthbert!

Any history lover would love this book for sure, but I think this book is also a great read for lovers of any genre.  It has something for everyone and is written so personally that it seems like you are stepping into a conversation and you get to see the intimate side of President Lincoln.  He was quite a man.  The book doesn't read in a text book fashion.  If  it did, I'd sure be put to sleep by it.  Instead, I found myself turning pages, more curious about the stories I'd learn about this man who lived and died so many years before me.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not? by Thompson Square with Travis Thrasher

I really like the cover of this book.  I think that it very clearly states what the book is about and it is very eye-catching and appealing to me.  I also like the shorter hardback books, like this one, because it's much easier to carry around than the longer hardback books.

I read Paper Angels with Travis Thrasher and I really have come to enjoy his books.  The only criticism that I have is that at one point later in the book, the repetitiveness of the plot became a little old, but as the book neared the end I felt as though it was moving once again.  Casey and Daniel are both very strong characters who haven't necessarily had the best luck in life.  They both love to write songs, but can't seem to do so without the other one.  I'm glad with who Casey chose in the end because I would have been mad had she made a different choice!

Casey's mom annoyed me for most of the book until the very end.  Her confession made me see that she wasn't the woman I pictured in my head for the entire book.  I had a reason for why she acted the way she did.  She finally made it into my good graces!

I look forward to reading more with Travis Thrasher.  I like how he has taken music artists from all different music genres and formed these books with their songs.  I think it is also giving the artist publicity.  I have only listened to Mark Schultz, so the artists of the past two books sent me looking up their songs.  Very clever!  I can't wait to see what song inspires him next.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon

I have never read a book by Irene Hannon that was not suspenseful.  I had no idea that she had a history of writing contemporary romance novels, too.  I must say that I was quite impressed with how she is able to write so well in both genres.  She seems incredibly comfortable to write in two completely different styles of writing.  I liked her before, but I like her even more now and am looking forward to her next romance novel coming out in the summer of 2014.

The characters in this book are so real and have such normal difficulties in their lives.  They are easy to relate to and your heart can't help but go out to them.  The book covers mostly 4 different people, even though Karen and Val's mom is a big player in the book, as well as Scott's mom.

In the prologue, I had difficulty seeing how these seemingly 4 different people would even cross paths.  However, as the story unfolded, I liked watching them learn new things about themselves, forgive, and even learn how to deal with manipulative mothers and ex-husbands.  Margaret, Karen and Val's mother, was the hardest person for me to like, as well as Karen's ex-husband.  I hated the constant criticism that their mother dished out, but I liked watching Karen stepping out of her comfort zone and hold her ground.  I found those parts quite funny because I could see the annoyance that her mother had at that moment!

I hope that Irene Hannon continues to write more romance novels in the future.  They aren't the sappy novels, but they are easy to relate to and refreshing.  I have a hard time calling them romance because this wasn't your typical romance book.  I think it follows life and love in a way that many people go through today.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray

I don't know what I usually associated Shelley Shepard Gray with mystery books but for some reason, I did.  Now that I know that she's not really that type of writer, I think I need to get more of her books.  I liked this one so much that I have already downloaded the first book in this series, Daybreak.  

As for mystery, it does have a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of secrets that surround the Keim family.  I enjoyed finding them out as the story went along.  I liked how she recapped on the secrets revealed in the first book, without letting you know too much detail that you wouldn't need to read the first book.  

I was hoping Amanda and Roman would find each other as someone that they could start a life with.  I was glad that Amanda stopped living in the past, even though she never forgot about it.  Elsie is one that I hope gets a book devoted to in the future.  I want her to end up happy and with someone so special.  I'm not certain I wish for her circumstances to change, but to see her work through it.  I'm guessing the first book has of Peter and Marie's story, so I'm anxious to get more details on that.  Lovina had me laughing in a light-hearted way.  She seemed wise from her mistakes, but also seemed to be supportive.  She was one of my favorite characters in the book, I think.  I hated the moment when she and Aaron shared a moment that was about his relationships in his life before her.  Lovina seemed to be so loving and caring and trying hard to be the perfect Amish wife.  What he said to her wasn't unloving, but it was something that made my heart hurt for any woman to realize about their relationship.

I am very excited to read the first book and the next book in this series.  Eventide, the third book in the Days of Redemption series, is set to be out in September.  I can't wait!

For more opinions on this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray. 

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I received this book free from Avon Inspire and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Tough Topics by Sam Storms

First off, because I'm a girl who always comments on the covers of the books because that's what draws me to the books usually, I like this cover.  There's no picture, but I think that's why I like it.  It's different.  It clearly states what the book is about without me flipping it to the back to read a synopsis, although there is one found on the back cover.

The book itself is one that I highly recommend.  Many times we all ask these tough questions, but not usually out in the open  It seems like the churches deal with the basics of Christianity, which is good and necessary, but there are other questions addressed in Scripture. You have to dig for the answers and know the character of God to form your opinion on certain topics, but many don't know how to study scripture for themselves.  That leads to the fact that many of these questions are seen as unanswerable to many.  I like that Sam Storms takes the hard questions, leads you to scripture to back his opinions, shows you other points of view, and then leaves you to form your own opinion.  I find it helpful that he states his own opinion in the book, too.  It was very biblical and after doing my own studies, I tended to have the same opinions as him.

I think this is a book that would be great for a small group study in church. It would give a chance for people to ask those other questions they are curious about but afraid to ask.  This is a book that should be on all bookshelves!

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I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Making Room by Elisa Pompili

I really liked this new author, Elisa Pompili.  There were a few moments in the book where I could tell that this was her first book, such as moments that had too many descriptive words about the scene.  That was few and far between though.  I was wrapped up in this book from the first page.  I didn't know what to expect from this book and I'm glad that I read it. 

Since it opens on the beach, I was hooked, especially since we're planning our beach vacation. I could see me reading this book on the beach easily!  I'm guessing that's why the chairs are on the cover.  I like the simple lines of the cover, but it doesn't tell me a whole lot about what the book is about. 

The book itself has very believable story line.  At times I would get frustrated with Elizabeth for her many personality swings when she was thinking about God, but then I started to put myself in her shoes.  Once I did that, I could easily understand why she would struggle with God when she had to raise her brothers and her parents were less than stellar.  No wonder she kept waiting for Nathan to leave.  I liked Nathan from the beginning and was glad that when Elizabeth told him that he could leave, he said "no."  He was a strong character and they both spoke their minds.  So many people are like Elizabeth in our lives, so I thought it was easy to picture her. 

I am definitely looking forward to more books by Pompili.  She has a wonderful talent at writing books.  Her grandmothers were right...she needed to write a book!  I know each book will only get better and better.  Keep writing!

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I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.